Hebrews 11: 6


In all creation boundaries have been established.  The mountains are not allowed to infringe on the domain of the sky.  Even God s enemy is restrained in his murderous plunge to destruction.  And no man will approach the Lord in confidence without faith.

We are allowed to reason together.  But no man can save another.  It is impossible to force a man to have faith.  But it is fully within our reach to help a man refine his understanding.

By every possible godly means, let us urge and encourage one another.  Even while we clean our own house, let us loudly sing the beauty of God’s gospel so that passers by may hear the noise.  May our faith in Christ give birth to faith in others.

By His Grace

By His Grace

Darkly Perceived


In our tiny mind we think that we will appear before God and show him all the treasures his love for us has brought.  “Look what you’re great grace has done my God these belong to you.”  Do we think he will be impressed?  He has lived in immeasurable splendor for eternity.  And when we kneel before him it will be among his great splendid things. 

For now we see as through a glass darkly.  But let us shake the thought that this is the way things are near the Lord.  The best of the righteous deeds of men are as filthy rags before the glory of God.

When men say,  “Prepare to meet thy maker” it is impossible for the speaker to conceive the fullness of those words.  Absolutely every knee will bow!

By His Grace

The scrapper


In my earlier years with the Lord I was far more willing to enter a scrap over Christianity.  I’m not sure if I was simply misguided or that I really enjoyed the battle.  Perhaps it was simply necessary to form the foundations of what I have today.  But he clearly teaches that once we have the understanding it is time to apply it.

I am not afraid of the banter that comes from the world.  But I take no joy in being witness to folly.  The bad thing is that those who argue against the Lord’s people do not perceive their error.  To them it is simply an argument among men about things that cannot be proven.  To me it is sad to witness their unbelief.

With all do hope I desire that the Lord bless all such encounters with the aim of teaching.  I will confess that I am still a novice, even after more than 20 years.

If you feel the same I wrote this to give you hope.  He is far greater than our weakness, and is not willing that any should perish.  Sometimes success is simply surviving with abiding peace to the next encounter.

By His Grace

The Peace of Man


Law among men is built to secure social prosperity.  Who can argue with a desire to restrain crime?  But the definition of crime does not need to contain the word “sin”.  It is easily seen that our laws disregard the use of that word on a regular basis.  One would think there is nothing wrong with excluding such words from man’s laws.  But let us consider what that means.

The laws that are supposed to promote social peace are a dangerous ground to cover.  If we exclude God from our laws what is left?  We simply create laws that relate to the affairs of men.  Such laws do not consider the Living God.  Therefore they do not consider pure righteousness or mercy.  They will, in the end, become profuse and often foolish.  After all, the Lord has said that there is a way which seems right to a man, but the end there of is death; the death of freedom and, eventually, the death of body.

In my short days I have watched laws go from reasonable to comedy.  But the effect of today’s laws is no joke at all.  I can be jailed for even writing this post.  It could be construed as “hate speech”.  But hate against who?  They would say I am expressing a hatred for the entire fabric of society.  (You may think I am over reacting.  Time will tell the story far more plainly.  These words won’t take long to be seen as viable.)  There are those who do not believe in a god at all.  They would be seriously offended by my inclusion of God in this assessment of law.  Though we are not at that stage yet, there is a day coming when that will be the case.

Already I get slammed by men of “religion” and atheists because I speak with authority about religious matters.  They take offence because I do not belong to their group.  And they strive to find fault with me and the words I write.  I do not say this to offend them.  But look at what must be spoken.  There is no lie in what I just wrote.  But they will certainly consider me a law-breaker.

Society wants peace.  All men want peace.  So do I.  But I don’t crave peace with men.  I crave peace with God.  His law is perfect.  It doesn’t take into consideration the laws of men.  While men try to mitigate against every possible offence, the Lord’s law stands firm.  And every infraction is an against insult to Him.  While men strive to rid themselves of His law and create their own, They error horribly.

Because of their law all who desire the Lord will eventually suffer alienation, slander, and isolation.  This has been the case from the beginning.  It is a firm enough aspect of loving God that the Apostle Paul addressed it quite pointedly.   12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 While evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”(2 Timothy 3)

I have found that to get closer to God causes my lips to make godly noises.  Without a doubt, such noises rile up man’s sense of independence from Him.  So be it.  I cannot turn away from the Living God to appease the machine of intolerant tolerance.  Not only is not wise before the Lord.  The law of man is far too unpredictable to be trusted for anything.  Yet this unpredictability is the very tool they are using to create their peace.  What superior folly man is caught in.  And all because he has decided to nullify the desire of the Living God among them.

There is hope, but not for man.  There is hope among those who desire God’s law over man’s.  There is a place where the Lord moves to close the door of man’s foolish ways.  When will it come upon us?  The Lord warns us clearly.  3 “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5)

Look around you today.  Consider what you see.  Note how man has made almost everything illegal in one form or another.  The only place of escape today is to do everything they tell you to do.  But who can faithfully serve the capricious nature of men?  We are to embrace the enemies of our country because law has upheld them as legitimate.  We are to cease speaking of God in almost every place.  I wonder when such posts as this will become overtly illegal.

I suffer for writing.  So will you.  I suffer isolation and shame for speaking the truth.  So will you.  I write this, not to complain, but to point out the times we live in.  What time is it?  Look at the clock of society.  Where is the peace of man?  It nearly encompasses the entire world.  We are nearly at the door of the Lord’s action against us.  I encourage you to wake up and react appropriately.  Freedom to love God openly is about to pass away.  And this time there will be no place to run.  Get used to it now.  Practise your freedom while you still have it.  Prepare to stand against the ways of man, or you will be swallowed up in their folly.

I know it takes a boldness to stand for what cannot be seen.  But isn’t that what faith is all about?  By the mercy of God I have learned to consider Him more alive than any man I might meet.  He is real!  It is the way of man which is contrived.

By His Grace.

Lessons From History


For the sake of all events among men:

Through out history, evil has prospered wherever the godly sought peace by remaining silent.  The fear of punishment looms hard on everyone.  But as the prospects appeared inevitable they spoke up.

One by one they were singled out of the masses.  Soon, in every account, the people of the world revolted at their own plight.  This has been true for every century.  How is it that people today do not take that into consideration?  How was it that the people of former generations didn’t take that into consideration when it was their turn.  The moment is not yet ripe.

I will not be silent.  Not because what I have to say is so holy or important, but because I desire to be counted with those who made that same choice.  I can testify that as a man speaks up against evil the assault begins.  I can surmise that the assault only lessens when the lips go still.

Regardless, all glory belongs to the One who has purchased Righteousness with His own blood.  History will record as it will record.  The moment is far too precious to ignore.

By His Grace.

Productivity


Even if what I write was consistently true, if it does not find a home with a sinner I have written for nothing.  Grace is extended to me.  The Lord is glorified by the things written here.   I am nothing if He is not glorified by His servant.  Yet I yearn to know that this service is constructive.  He holds His own reward in His Holy hand.  The fruit of this place is within His promise.

Selfish desire for encouragement is upon these words.  But anyone who will apply their pen to the Gospel will encounter a desire to know their value.  Help me, Lord, to continue despite this folly.  Bless these words with strength when they find another in the same state of mind.  You are sufficient in Your Grace.